Who we are

For those who do not know us, we are Sarah Dunwood and Sharon Cawley. Together, we created Life After Teaching, a community that has grown to more than one hundred and seventy thousand members across the UK. It has become a place where people can speak openly about their experiences in education, find support, and realise they are not alone.

Out of this community came the Pit Pony Podcast, where we explore the stories that often go untold. Each conversation shines a light on the human impact of a system under strain, and on the people who have had to rebuild their lives and identities after leaving the classroom. Both the group and the podcast have been built through volunteered time, personal commitment and the goodwill of a small team of supporters. They have grown into something much bigger than we ever anticipated.

We now want to take the next step. Our aim is to consolidate everything we have built and create the foundations that will keep this work sustainable, accessible and truly useful for the long term. We have several plans that we want to bring to life, including a dedicated website where resources, advice and reliable signposting can be found in one trusted place. We hope to build a directory of vetted services to support people during some of the most difficult moments in their careers. We also want to begin running in person events, from community meet-ups to live Pit Pony recordings, so that people can connect face to face and feel part of something supportive and grounded.

None of this will ever involve paying either of us. Our time, energy and commitment will continue to be offered freely. What we are fundraising for is the practical infrastructure: the systems, production, platforms and events that will help us bring these ideas to life.

Why this matters

Far too many teachers have found themselves leaving the profession under extraordinary pressure. Beneath the headlines exists a quieter story of people who have been broken by a system that was supposed to support them. Through Life After Teaching and the Pit Pony Podcast, we are trying to give those stories the space they deserve and to create something that genuinely helps others navigate what can be a traumatic and life-altering transition.

How your support will be used

Your donation will help us move from goodwill and volunteered hours into a more sustainable model that can genuinely serve the people who rely on us.

Funding will allow us to:

• build outreach and engagement to widen the support available

• develop resources, platforms and the dedicated website that will hold everything in one place

• create the infrastructure needed for events, meet-ups and live recordings

• continue producing the Pit Pony Podcast so that more stories can be heard

In short, we need a start-up fund to move this work into its next chapter. Your contribution will help transform this vision into tangible support for the thousands of people who need it.

Thank you for believing in this work and for helping us give a voice to those who have felt unseen, unheard and pushed aside. Your support makes a difference.

Sharon and Sarah